Nestable multiple-use vehicle



Sept. 8, 1970 N. E. THIELKING NESTABLE MULTIPLE-USE VEHICLE Filed May 24, 1968 INVENTOR United States Patent O 3,527,360 NESTABLE MULTIPLE-USE VEHICLE Norman E. Thielking, 1116 Cousin St., Cape Girardeau, M0. 63701 Filed May 24, 1968, Ser. No. 731,992 Int. Cl. A471:` /00 U.S. Cl. 211--150 7 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A roller-mounted nestable multiple-use vehicle having a base of a horizontal configuration to nest with another base of like configuration, post means mounted on said base and multiple shelf members mounted for variab-le spacing on said post means, said shelf members incorporating roller means for facilitating loading and unloading and also having marginal retention means for retaining articles on said shelf members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention is in the category of manually operable vehicles used for facilitating and expediting the movement of small objects in the loading of `vehicles and the transportation and presentation of merchandise on the vehicles for removal by the customer to reduce the time, effort and expense involved.

Description of the prior art Various types of small vehicles have been used including those employed in the merchandising of various commodities, including shopping carts, such as the nestable carts of Pat. 3,272,528. However, prior devices have not been entirely satisfactory from a viewpoint of simplicity, durability, eiiiciency, and extent of usage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Applicants invention is a relatively simple and inexpensive vehicle having a generally horizontal base of a configuration to nest with other bases of like character, and on which base is mounted post means on which are secured for variable spacing detachable shelf members incorporating roller means for facilitating the sliding of objects thereon and therefrom when the shelf members are in horizontal position. The shelf members are capable of being tilted from a horizontal position to a position toward the vertical to facilitate nesting and the shelf members may be provided with marginal retention means. The shelf members also may be used as platforms or trays.

It is an object of the invention to provide a nestable multiple-use vehicle of relatively simple, inexpensive, and durable construction, 'which can be readily used for the convenient loading, transporting, and displaying of merchandise for sale, as well as of a size to be readily loaded manually or by power equipment, such as a fork lift, and placed in a refrigerated atmosphere including during transportation as well as at other times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle which can be used with or Without wheels, of the character indicated with a removable selected number of shelves which may be mounted .at different distances from each other to accommodate many types of articles of varying size sold in food or other stores, and each shelf when removed being capable of being used as a palette, platform or tray.

`(lther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Patented Sept. 8, 197C! ICC BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With continued reference to the drawing, a vehicle frame is provided having a base formed of side members 10 and 11 connected by an end member 12. The side members 10 and 11 diverge slightly from the end member 12 to allow nesting with other members of similar configuration. The base may be supported by rollers 13 carried by brackets 14 at its widest portion and by brackets 15 attached to a bar 16 at their narrowest portion adjacent the connecting member 12. Thus he base frame is simple, sturdy, nesta-ble and readily movable with or without rollers.

The diverging ends of the base frame side members 10 and 11 are provided with curved forward ends 17 and 18 with rearwardly extending generally horizontal portions 19 and 20 having rear ends fastened to upright post members 21 and 22 located approximately three-quarters the distance between the front and rear rollers for balance. The post members 21 and 22 have a joining or connecting portion forming a handle 23 at the upper ends of the same. Thus the post members and connecting handle portion are U-shaped.

A series of forwardly inclined shelves 24 are provided for supporting objects thereon. Each shelf has its rear edge adapted to be disposed adjacent to the post members 21 and 22, and is provided with mounting arms or brackets 25 and 26. The brackets are provided with stop portions 25 and 26 which limit the downward movement of the shelves. Also the brackets may have reinforcing gussets 25 and 26". The shelves may be mounted by means of intertitting pins and projections between the arms 25 and 26 and the post members. For example by means of pins or projections 27 receivable within spaced openings 2S in the post members. The brackets 25 and 26 are so spaced that the spacing between the pins and projections is slightly less than the spacing of the outer surfaces 29 and 30 of the posts, and the brackets 25 and 26 are of spring metal so that they may readily be sprung enough to permit the pins 27 to be inserted in the openings 28 or removed therefrom. Thus a selective number of the shelves 24 may be used at selectively spaced intervals on the posts 21 and 22. Also the shelves, apart from the posts, may be used as pallets or trays.

lIn order to facilitate the sliding of relatively heavy objects onto and from the forwardly inclined shelves 24 the shelves may be provided with rollers 31 mounted on shafts 32 journalled in the turned-down end portions 33 of the shelves. Also each shelf may have marginal retention means 34 detachably mounted along its edges such as its front and sides. Such retention means may have depending tongues 35 which extend into slots 36 (FIG. 4) along the margin of the shelf.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a device is provided which can be loaded, transported and placed in a readily accessible location and the products may be removed by customers or others, that the shelves may have different spacings and may be readily applied and removed and when removed used as platforms or pallets.

What is claimed is:

1, A lvehicle with which to move articles comprising a frame having a connecting portion and generally horizontal side portions divergng from opposite ends of said connecting portion to allow telescoping of said frame with a similar frame, said side portions extending upwardly and reversely and overlying themselves and terminating intermediate said side portions, posts mounted on said side portions and connected to and braced by the extremities of said upwardly and reversely extending side portions, shelf members independently selectively' pivoted at longitudinally spaced locations and elevations on said posts in a manner to allow the sliding of articles directly from said shelf members and to allow movement of the latter one b-y one from a generally horizontal article supporting position to an elevated position nearer the vertical to afford access to the next lower shelf and when in such position to allow nesting of said vehicle with another similar vehicle, said vehicle being of a construction to allow it to be loaded, propelled from one location to another, allowed to stand for conventional display, sales and removal of the articles therefrom or for unloading and return for reloading.

2. A nestable vehicle comprising a generally U-shaped frame having a connecting portion and diverging side members, anti-friction means supporting said frame, a pair of upright generally parallel posts mounted intermediate the ends of said side members in spaced relation to said connecting portion, at least one shelf, means for adjustably swingably connecting said shelf and posts together in a selected position along the length of said posts, stop` means on said shelf for maintaining the same in a first substantially horizontal article supporting position but permitting said shelf to be swung to a second elevated position, whereby said shelf is selectively mounted on said posts in a rst article supporting position and can be moved to a second position to permit tthe vehicle to be nested with other vehicles of similar construction.

3. The structure of claim 2 including a plurality of shelves adjustably swingably connected in spaced relation to each other on said posts.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which said shelf member includes anti-friction surface means to facilitate unload- The structure of claim 2 including a marginal retention member mounted on said shelf.

I6. The structure of claim 2 in which said posts are connected by a handle-forming upper connection.

`'7. The structure of claim 2 in which said means for adjustably swingably connecting said shelf and posts together includes cooperating projections and receiving apertures.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,275,983 8/1918 Rasmussen 211-150 2,192,102 2/1940 Pinto 211-126 -f 2,479,530 8/1949 Watson 211-126 X 2,716,495 8/1955 Prevette 211--150 X 2,928,681 3/1960 Wilson 211-126 X 2,950,541 8/1960 Dement 211-150 X 3,045,831 7/ 1962 Pendergrast 211--150 X 3,232,442 2/ 1966 Wilson 211-181 X NILE C. BYERS, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

